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Biography

Mia Dyson plays Jim Dyson guitars (her father is a luthier), which is not so hard to believe. What’s harder to believe – given the extraordinary depth of passion in her voice, her soulful feel for electric and lap slide guitars, the maturity of her writing and rare magnetism as a performer – is that that day was only 22 years ago. Mia’s revolution began with the 2005 ARIA Award for Best Blues and Roots Album or her second album, Parking Lots (her debut, Cold Water, had been nominated in 2003). Her profile was also boosted by a song on the soundtrack to the acclaimed Australian feature film, Look Both Ways, and an invitation to join Deborah Conway’s collaborative singer-songwriters’ roadshow, Broad. Opening for Bonnie Raitt on a tour of Australia was a more personal affirmation of Mia’s path. In 2006 and 2007, Mia toured the USA and Canada and Mia joined Frank Zappa’s band The Mothers of Invention on stage at the Winnipeg Folk Festival, as well as playing on stages at a raft of festivals across the US & Canada. Supporting Ani DiFranco in New York’s Central Park, was another touring high point for Mia. With an extraordinary depth of passion in her voice, a soulful feel for electric and lap slide guitars, maturity of song-writing and rare magnetism as a performer, her red carpet arrival onto the music scene was cemented when she supported Eric Clapton during his Australian tour in 2007. Another step along the path as a journey-woman was earlier this year, opening up for Joe Cocker’s national tour in 2008. “Tough, rocking rhythms and slow grooves on one guitar behind a voice that has control…it’s easy to see why Australians are getting excited about Dyson...” The Herald (Edinburgh)